Simon McGeorge | Winemaker and Company Director

Simon has spent the last 18 years creating wines for major international brands and local boutique labels. In New Zealand, he is most well known for his multi-award winning work as the winemaker and brand ambassador for Waipara Hills Winery (2006 – 2017).

Simon continues to work at Waipara Hills Winery as the Facility Manager and is employed by New Zealand Wineries as their full-time Contract Winemaker. Since 2009 he has been the Director and Winemaker for his own company; theMcGEORGEwine co. which he co-runs with his wife Olive Hill.

Simon studied wine making at Lincoln University and went on to work in Australia, France, Slovenia, America and the 3 main wine regions of New Zealand, before returning to Canterbury in 2006.

Simon’s passion for wine making and his love of the challenges it brings, drive him to constantly explore new methods and techniques to create phenomenal wines.
He is now using that knowledge to create the very best wines for his clients and his own wine brands; Lady Ranfurly, The Winemaker’s Wife and (his soon to be introduced) signature McGEORGE label.

Olive Hill | The Winemaker’s Wife & Business Partner

Olive grew up on a Canterbury sheep and beef farm and spent her younger years enjoying life in the country and traveling with her sister and parents.

Olive started her professional career working for DFS Galleria Duty Free. She worked first as a sales assistant and then as a Retail Sales Training Manager and HR Assistant. At the same time she completed her studies towards her BA in Japanese and qualified as a Make-Up Artist.

Then in 2005 she and her sister Ngaio Bell decided to start their own venture; designing and retailing their own exclusive occasion-wear label ‘Smith & Boston’.

When Olive met Simon it was her love of fun, fashion and a challenge, that led her to the initial idea for the wine label The Winemaker’s Wife. Simon thought it was a catchy name and the rest is history!

Today Olive continues to work as a designer and retailer for Smith & Boston, and in partnership with Simon running the McGEORGE wine co. She is the brand ambassador for her namesake wine label; The Winemaker’s Wife.